Buscando un buen trabajo : Las representaciones laborales en la óptica de un grupo de jóvenes de clase media del Area Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA) : Primeras aproximaciones a un problema de investigación

Fil: Figal, Matías. Universidad de Buenos Aires.Fil: Rodrigues Pires, Magalí. Universidad de Buenos Aires.Fil: D'Errico, Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires.Fil: Españadero, Liana. Universidad de Buenos Aires.Fil: Gabba, Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires.Fil: Rodríguez, Alejandro Damián. Universidad de Buenos Aires; CONICET; IDES.Fil: Moscona, Gustavo. Universidad de Buenos Aires

Selective inhibition of T suppressor-cell function by a monosaccharide

Interactions between regulatory T lymphocytes and other cells are assumed to occur at the level of the cell surface. T cells which suppress the generation of specifically effector cells have been described as having antigenic, idiotypic, allotypic and I-region specificity1−4. Other T suppressor cells generated by in vitro cultivation with or without mitogenic stimulation5,6 have suppressive activity for T and B cells but no specificity can be assigned to them. These T suppressor cells (Ts) inhibit various lymphoid functions—this either reflects their polyclonal origin or indicates that the structures recognized by the Ts receptors must be common for many cell types. Carbohydrates on cell membrane-inserted glycoproteins or glycolipids might function as specific ligands for recognition by cellular receptors or soluble factors. Almost all cell-surface proteins of mammalian cells are glycosylated. There is evidence for lectin-like carbohydrate binding proteins not only in plants7 but also in toxins8, viruses9, prokaryotic cells10 and even mammalian cells, including T cells11. A functional role for these lectin-like proteins has been described for slime moulds and suggested for the selective association of embryonic cells12,13. We report here that addition of a monosaccharide can counteract the effect of T suppressor cells during the generation of alloreactive cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) in vitro

Prevalence of alcohol-impaired drivers based on random breath tests in a roadside survey

Sobriety checkpoints are not usually randomly located by traffic authorities. As such, information provided by non-random alcohol tests cannot be used to infer the characteristics of the general driving population. In this paper a case study is presented in which the prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving is estimated for the general population of drivers. A stratified probabilistic sample was designed to represent vehicles circulating in non-urban areas of Catalonia (Spain), a region characterized by its complex transportation network and dense traffic around the metropolis of Barcelona. Random breath alcohol concentration tests were performed during spring 2012 on 7,596 drivers. The estimated prevalence of alcohol-impaired drivers was 1.29%, which is roughly a third of the rate obtained in non-random tests. Higher rates were found on weekends (1.90% on Saturdays, 4.29% on Sundays) and especially at night. The rate is higher for men (1.45%) than for women (0.64%) and the percentage of positive outcomes shows an increasing pattern with age. In vehicles with two occupants, the proportion of alcohol-impaired drivers is estimated at 2.62%, but when the driver was alone the rate drops to 0.84%, which might reflect the socialization of drinking habits. The results are compared with outcomes in previous surveys, showing a decreasing trend in the prevalence of alcohol-impaired drivers over time

Copper oxide wire particles used to control Haemonchus infections : efficacy in giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) at Busch Gardens Tampa and potential mechanism of action

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections affect production systems and exotic hoofstock in zoos, particularly giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). Anthelmintic resistance (AR) prevalence is increasing in production systems and zoos. To combat the AR that compounds GIN problems, alternative control methods are used. One such alternative is copper oxide wire particles (COWP), which control the abomasal nematode Haemonchus contortus. COWP was given to seven adult giraffe at Busch Gardens Tampa, at descending dosages: 25 g, 12.5 g, 6.3 g. Treatment administration time was determined by fecal egg count (FEC) being above 600 eggs per gram (EPG), and therefore varied with each animal. FEC following 25 g COWP treatment significantly (p \u3c 0.05) decreased between Week 0 and Weeks 2-5. FEC following 12.5 g COWP treatment significantly (p \u3c 0.05) decreased between Week 0 and Week 2. FEC following 6.3 g COWP treatment showed no reduction between Week 0 and all PT samples. A 25 g COWP treatment was an acceptable part of a GIN control program for treatment of Haemonchus in giraffe, a 12.5 g COWP treatment was minimally acceptable, and a 6.3 g COWP treatment was ineffective. To determine the mechanism of action for COWP, 11 Suffolk lambs were abomasally fistulated and inoculated with H. contortus larvae. Abomasal contents, nematodes, feces, and blood were collected at 0, 12, 36, 60, and 84 hours post-treatment (HPT). pH was measured and nematodes were viewed using scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and copper content analysis was performed. FEC and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined for each time period. pH was inconclusive. FEC decreased throughout the study and up to 33 days PT; no statistics were performed due to removal of nematodes. PCV had no substantial change, but the study time period was too short for a significant change. SEM showed no obvious changes between pre- and post-treatment. TEM showed cuticle damage present in PT samples. EDS showed copper present in 10 of 11 spots on PT samples. Copper content of nematodes was maximum at 60 HPT. Evidence suggests COWP has a direct effect on H. contortus

Spheroid arrays for high-throughput single-cell analysis of spatial patterns and biomarker expression in 3D

We describe and share a device, methodology and image analysis algorithms, which allow up to 66 spheroids to be arranged into a gel-based array directly from a culture plate for downstream processing and analysis. Compared to processing individual samples, the technique uses 11-fold less reagents, saves time and enables automated imaging. To illustrate the power of the technology, we showcase applications of the methodology for investigating 3D spheroid morphology and marker expression and for in vitro safety and efficacy screens. Firstly, spheroid arrays of 11 cell-lines were rapidly assessed for differences in spheroid morphology. Secondly, highly-positive (SOX-2), moderately-positive (Ki-67) and weakly-positive (βIII-tubulin) protein targets were detected and quantified. Third, the arrays enabled screening of ten media compositions for inducing differentiation in human neurospheres. Lastly, the application of spheroid microarrays for spheroid-based drug-screens was demonstrated by quantifying the dose-dependent drop in proliferation and increase in differentiation in etoposide-treated neurospheres

Identifying variables that predict depression following the general lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to define the psychological markers for future development of depression symptoms following the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Based on previous studies, we focused on loneliness, intolerance of uncertainty and emotion estimation biases as potential predictors of elevated depression levels. During the general lockdown in April 2020, 551 participants reported their psychological health by means of various online questionnaires and an implicit task. Out of these participants, 129 took part in a second phase in June 2020. Subjective loneliness during the lockdown rather than objective isolation was the strongest predictor of symptoms of depression 5 weeks later. Younger age and health related worry also predicted higher non-clinical levels of depression and emotional distress. The results support the diathesis-stress model, which posits that a combination of preexisting vulnerabilities along with stressors such as negative life events are among the factors affecting the development of psychopathology. Moreover, our results correspond with those of previous studies conducted worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taken together, these findings call for focusing on psychological factors, especially among younger people, to identify individuals at risk for future development of depression and to promote new strategies for prevention

Training mental health peer support training facilitators: a qualitative, participatory evaluation

The facilitator’s training for peer support workers in mental health course was a recovery-based initiative addressed to professionalize peer support in Catalonia, Spain. Our aim was to elicit participants’ motivations, significant learnings, and opinions regarding the training programme. A qualitative approach was used through content and thematic analyses of the course contents and participation narratives. The motivations to attend the course were helping others, learning, and supporting the implementation of the peer support profession. Participants learnt concepts on pedagogy, peer support, and recovery. The key resulting themes were organization and moderation; peer support’s role, skills, functions, and values; language; health system knowledge; and types of support. The course programme seems appropriate in preparing people who have lived experience of mental health problems as facilitators of future peer support training courses. The present analysis identifies the participants’ vision regarding their learning needs. It aims to serve as a guide for similar train-the-trainers courses